Shelter plans week to support homeless issues

You can write, sleep or fast for the cause.

You can write, sleep or fast for the cause.

November 11, 2006|Tribune Staff Report

SOUTH BEND -- The Center for the Homeless offers the public a few ways to show support for poverty issues, from writing letters to politicians to sleeping outside like a homeless person. That's because Sunday through Saturday is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. From 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, the public can go to the shelter, 813 S. Michigan St., to write letters to local and national officials. This will include a forum with shelter guests and representatives of Hope Rescue Mission and the Food Bank of Northern Indiana. A candlelight vigil will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at the shelter with speakers and music by the shelter's guests. Also, members of the public are invited to join some staff and volunteers as they sleep outside on the hard surface of the center's courtyard as if they were homeless -- that is, no tent. A sleeping bag and warm clothing are recommended, said Jacqueline Heirman, assistant development director. If you want to partake in the sleep-out, she said, you should arrive about 6 p.m. Food and bathrooms will be available. On Friday, the center encourages the public to skip lunch to honor those who go without food. For more information, call the center at (574) 282-8700.